Miss Sackville’s Fancy

MISS SACKVILLE’S FANCY. English, Country Dance Tune (2/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). AABB. In addition to Aird’s 1782 printing, the melody under the “Miss Sackville” title can be found in several 19th century musicians manuscripts, including those of: William Mittell (1799, New Romney, Kent), H.S.J. Jackson (1823, Wyresdale, Lancashire), John Buttery (fifer, 37th Regiment, c. 1798-1810), and John Winder (1789, Wyresdale, Lancashire). Miss Sackville may have been from the household of George Sackville Germain (1716-1785), First Viscount Sackville. Germain was known as Lord Sackville until 1770, when he took the name Germain when he inherited estates from Lady Elizabeth Germain. Sackville was a military man who rose to the rank of major-general in the Seven Years War. He was court marshaled after the Battle of Minden (1759) when he failed to pursue the retreating French, thus allowing them to escape. He was restored to power by King George III, who appointed him secretary of state for America from 1775-1782, during the years of the American War of Independence, a post that he discharged in a lackluster fashion. Germain had three daughters, Caroline, Diana and Elizabeth, one of whom might be honored by the title. See also “Watson's Hornpipe” which shares the first strain.